hhr ss ticking time bomb??
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
What many here miss is that in the past most cars were over built to take modifications that would not effect them. With todays cars many are kept alive with the computer. Tranaxles, pistons, clutches etc.
Todays engine management systems are amazing in what they can to and protect. If you are smart or lucky enought to figure out where you can mess with them you can be rewarded with a great power gain. But if you are not lucky or smart you can really mess up too.
Not all of these cases are because of modifications but many are. It is the price or risk you take in the search for more power.
It is to the point that computers can stop engine knock or kill the power for a milisecond when the tranny shifts to keep it alive. Mess with this or make a mistake and you will have a major issue.
This does not apply to just the turbo engines but the SuperCharged engines as well as many things on the V8's.
I have a GTP and have seen many kill their Gen III 3800 SC with bad mods. These engine ate a lot of pistons with bad programers a few years back.
Now that is not to say there are time parts fail. Add anything to an engine that another engine does not have it adds one more item that can fail. There are many more things on a 2.0 that a 2.2 and 2.4 do not have so the risk of a failed part increases.
As it goes the 2.0 is not a high failure rate engine. GM has alot of them out there and most are not having major issues. Add to this the new 1.4 engines they also have been pretty good too. IN the past Turbo engines did have some issues and needed special care. Today they are pretty reliable and really in stock form can be treated like any other engine.
But because nothing in life is 100% GM offers the 5 year 100,000 warranty.
Trust me I have seen many stock engines with cracked intakes and other broken parts too but there are just not many Buick Lesaber or Crown Vic web sites that give a place for the few who have suffered issues to complain.
Todays engine management systems are amazing in what they can to and protect. If you are smart or lucky enought to figure out where you can mess with them you can be rewarded with a great power gain. But if you are not lucky or smart you can really mess up too.
Not all of these cases are because of modifications but many are. It is the price or risk you take in the search for more power.
It is to the point that computers can stop engine knock or kill the power for a milisecond when the tranny shifts to keep it alive. Mess with this or make a mistake and you will have a major issue.
This does not apply to just the turbo engines but the SuperCharged engines as well as many things on the V8's.
I have a GTP and have seen many kill their Gen III 3800 SC with bad mods. These engine ate a lot of pistons with bad programers a few years back.
Now that is not to say there are time parts fail. Add anything to an engine that another engine does not have it adds one more item that can fail. There are many more things on a 2.0 that a 2.2 and 2.4 do not have so the risk of a failed part increases.
As it goes the 2.0 is not a high failure rate engine. GM has alot of them out there and most are not having major issues. Add to this the new 1.4 engines they also have been pretty good too. IN the past Turbo engines did have some issues and needed special care. Today they are pretty reliable and really in stock form can be treated like any other engine.
But because nothing in life is 100% GM offers the 5 year 100,000 warranty.
Trust me I have seen many stock engines with cracked intakes and other broken parts too but there are just not many Buick Lesaber or Crown Vic web sites that give a place for the few who have suffered issues to complain.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-13-2008
Posts: 2,075
From: Knoxville, TN
Its a crap shoot!
My dad had a 84' Lincoln Town Car that had over 300K on it when it was totaled by a TA. Ford bought the car back just to tear down the motor. my dad scratched his head for a while on that one, but the brand new one he bought to replace it, went through 3 trannies in a year. from love of a car to pure hate in a year. **** happens.
Go back to statistics, every product from rocket components to bubble gum has a perceived acceptable rate of failure, unfortunately CHevy will never tell you that expected number, and will try and foot the customer with the bill, just to try and keep the bean count down. Thats why a stupid dealer will tell you your IC caused the engine to blow. WC Fields would be a car dealer if he were alive today.
My dad had a 84' Lincoln Town Car that had over 300K on it when it was totaled by a TA. Ford bought the car back just to tear down the motor. my dad scratched his head for a while on that one, but the brand new one he bought to replace it, went through 3 trannies in a year. from love of a car to pure hate in a year. **** happens.
Go back to statistics, every product from rocket components to bubble gum has a perceived acceptable rate of failure, unfortunately CHevy will never tell you that expected number, and will try and foot the customer with the bill, just to try and keep the bean count down. Thats why a stupid dealer will tell you your IC caused the engine to blow. WC Fields would be a car dealer if he were alive today.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-18-2010
Posts: 313
From: Roseville, Mi
From what I've seen the LNF is a pretty stout motor. Atleast the motor has some decent internals to it. Really only need some forged pistons to push it towards 500whp. Look at my 2001 Lightning's engine. Ford decided that the normal N/A 5.4 rods would be enough. If you are over 450rwhp with the Eaton, you're sitting on a bomb. Any when the rod's go, they 99% of the time put a hole in the block. The L's engine is mostly the reason the Terminator's came with a forged shortblock. Unless your shooting for over 450fwhp, I would worry more about the driveline, then the engine itself, as long as you have a safe tune.
Dave
Dave
Member
Joined: 07-14-2008
Posts: 86
From: Winona Ontario Canada
hey,whats the price of a complete drop in from GM? I got lucky when my 96 Blazer went boom with only 100,000 on it. Found a guy with a complete crate engine for $2400.I have 45,000 on the wifes daily driver with no engine problems. Had it in to repair the rust on all four doors but thats it. I bought the stage one kit years back but never installed it.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Its a crap shoot!
My dad had a 84' Lincoln Town Car that had over 300K on it when it was totaled by a TA. Ford bought the car back just to tear down the motor. my dad scratched his head for a while on that one, but the brand new one he bought to replace it, went through 3 trannies in a year. from love of a car to pure hate in a year. **** happens.
Go back to statistics, every product from rocket components to bubble gum has a perceived acceptable rate of failure, unfortunately CHevy will never tell you that expected number, and will try and foot the customer with the bill, just to try and keep the bean count down. Thats why a stupid dealer will tell you your IC caused the engine to blow. WC Fields would be a car dealer if he were alive today.
My dad had a 84' Lincoln Town Car that had over 300K on it when it was totaled by a TA. Ford bought the car back just to tear down the motor. my dad scratched his head for a while on that one, but the brand new one he bought to replace it, went through 3 trannies in a year. from love of a car to pure hate in a year. **** happens.
Go back to statistics, every product from rocket components to bubble gum has a perceived acceptable rate of failure, unfortunately CHevy will never tell you that expected number, and will try and foot the customer with the bill, just to try and keep the bean count down. Thats why a stupid dealer will tell you your IC caused the engine to blow. WC Fields would be a car dealer if he were alive today.
It also like the many Turbo Upgrade harness issues. It just depends on the tech who did the work. If they were crimped right and using the correct tools they were fine, if not they had issues.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-03-2009
Posts: 707
From: atlanta, ga
hey,whats the price of a complete drop in from GM? I got lucky when my 96 Blazer went boom with only 100,000 on it. Found a guy with a complete crate engine for $2400.I have 45,000 on the wifes daily driver with no engine problems. Had it in to repair the rust on all four doors but thats it. I bought the stage one kit years back but never installed it.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-03-2008
Posts: 769
From: LaMarque,Tx
wow...this thread has taken off. i didn't mean to seem paranoid or cause worry.it's just i started seeing not one or two post about engine failures on stock motors,it's been a few. i understand about glitches and what not. but when metal shavings are found in people's oil and motor and NOBODY knows why,that's a concern to me. another reason this concerns me is because just about all the problems that we all have experienced,i have experienced them with both of the ss's we own. the only thing left is blown tranny,turbo,or motor. otherwise i have had: on the 5 speed-cracked ic pipe on the car when i drove it off the lot!!,clutch peddle bracket failure,power steering failure,traction control being off,and air bag light being on. on the auto-the brake warm up thing,suspected misfire(car went into limp mode several different times and it's stock.they say it's fixed,but we will see)airbag light.
so just wondering is it a matter of when and not if the motor,tranny,or turbo goes poof. for the smart arses,yes,all things come to an end with a car,but not at 42k miles. the only reason this comes to mind is because my 08 has what is considered low miles and i have been offered 14k,is which what i owe on it. soooo i'm thinking should i jump off it while i can or hope i will be okay till it's paid off(this is what i prefer). once it's paid off,if it breaks,it won't be too bad. no car note so the money will be there to get it fixed. my rule doesn't apply to me because i'm not worried about a warranty. i'm worried about workmanship!
so just wondering is it a matter of when and not if the motor,tranny,or turbo goes poof. for the smart arses,yes,all things come to an end with a car,but not at 42k miles. the only reason this comes to mind is because my 08 has what is considered low miles and i have been offered 14k,is which what i owe on it. soooo i'm thinking should i jump off it while i can or hope i will be okay till it's paid off(this is what i prefer). once it's paid off,if it breaks,it won't be too bad. no car note so the money will be there to get it fixed. my rule doesn't apply to me because i'm not worried about a warranty. i'm worried about workmanship!
Senior Member
Joined: 07-01-2011
Posts: 144
From: El Paso, TX
wow...this thread has taken off. i didn't mean to seem paranoid or cause worry.it's just i started seeing not one or two post about engine failures on stock motors,it's been a few. i understand about glitches and what not. but when metal shavings are found in people's oil and motor and NOBODY knows why,that's a concern to me. another reason this concerns me is because just about all the problems that we all have experienced,i have experienced them with both of the ss's we own. the only thing left is blown tranny,turbo,or motor. otherwise i have had: on the 5 speed-cracked ic pipe on the car when i drove it off the lot!!,clutch peddle bracket failure,power steering failure,traction control being off,and air bag light being on. on the auto-the brake warm up thing,suspected misfire(car went into limp mode several different times and it's stock.they say it's fixed,but we will see)airbag light.
so just wondering is it a matter of when and not if the motor,tranny,or turbo goes poof. for the smart arses,yes,all things come to an end with a car,but not at 42k miles. the only reason this comes to mind is because my 08 has what is considered low miles and i have been offered 14k,is which what i owe on it. soooo i'm thinking should i jump off it while i can or hope i will be okay till it's paid off(this is what i prefer). once it's paid off,if it breaks,it won't be too bad. no car note so the money will be there to get it fixed. my rule doesn't apply to me because i'm not worried about a warranty. i'm worried about workmanship!
so just wondering is it a matter of when and not if the motor,tranny,or turbo goes poof. for the smart arses,yes,all things come to an end with a car,but not at 42k miles. the only reason this comes to mind is because my 08 has what is considered low miles and i have been offered 14k,is which what i owe on it. soooo i'm thinking should i jump off it while i can or hope i will be okay till it's paid off(this is what i prefer). once it's paid off,if it breaks,it won't be too bad. no car note so the money will be there to get it fixed. my rule doesn't apply to me because i'm not worried about a warranty. i'm worried about workmanship!
For example my engine going at 40k (see earlier post on this thread) turned out to be all 4 camshaft end bearings ground up. This sounds like a lack of oil to the top of the engine. A condition that could have been forseen and prevented by design.
That said. You have to play the numbers. Mine is the exception not the rule. There is a very good chance you will never have a problem with your powertrain based on percentages. I have owned a bunch of cars over the last 35 years and this is the first one I needed the powertrain warrenty for. Also the HHR SS does NOT have a higher rate of failure than most performance cars. (isn't statitics wonderful
)Bottom line would I buy another one exactly like mine (if the still made them)?
HELL YES!!!
